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Grand Rapids – Geraldine “Gerry” (Drewes) Schonthaler, age 85, of Grand Rapids, passed away Friday, April 21, 2017 at Grand Itasca Hospital.
    Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Satuday, April 29, 2017 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids. Visitation will be held the one hour prior to service. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Coleraine.
    Gerry was born in Roseau to Erhart and Mrytle (Hegstad) Norman in November of 1931. She graduated high school from Thief River Falls and attended college in Washington State.  After finishing with an Associate Degree, Gerry returned home to help her mother and stepfather run the Little Itasca Resort, which they built, on Deer Lake in Deer River.   
    Gerry married Lloyd Drewes from Coleraine in 1954. They built their home in Grand Rapids where they raised three children; Steven 1957-1978, Larry 1960-2005 and Joni 1963 of Grand Rapids.  
    Gerry worked as a secretary at Reed’s Drug in Grand Rapids for many years. She then worked at Arrow Electric in Cohasset and later, Security Drug in Hibbing.
    Gerry and Lloyd were members of the First Lutheran Church where she held the treasurer position and sat on other boards until after her retirement when the two of them became the janitors at the church. She also was active in the LWML and Vacation Bible School.  Gerry was also a member of TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly), the bowling league and was an active member of VFW Auxiliary.
    Gerry enjoyed taking extended camping vacations with her family during the summer. She also enjoyed cooking, reading, gardening and spending time socializing with family and friends.  In her later years, Gerry’s favorite pastime was making homemade greeting cards.
    After Lloyd passed away in 2000, Gerry married Robert “Bob” Schonthaler in 2001. Bob has four children; Sandie (Ross) Peterson of St. Louis, MO, Tom (Lois) of Bowie, MD, John (Jean) of Andover, Rob (Lynn) of Lakeville.  
    There were 16 grandchildren, Joshua and Erik (Larry); David and Rachel (Sandie); Eric, Wayne, Janet and Robbie (Tom); Kristine and Ryan (John); Jacob, Dana, Claire, Leah, Kate, Gina (Rob); and 14 great- grandchildren, whom she loved dearly; several nieces and nephews.
    Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Lloyd; sons, Steven and Larry; two brothers, Charles and Jim; one sister, Sylvia Nyquist Bloch; and step-father, Joel Nyquist.
    Arrangements are with Rowe Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Grand Rapids. To sign the   online guestbook or send   condolences, visit   www.rowefuneralhomeandcrematory.com.
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